Apparatus for the production of oxygen and hydrogen gases.



W. JONES. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES. APPLICAT ION mm OCT. Is. 1913.

1,212,229, Patented Jan. 16,1917.

WITNESSES: /[NVENTOR.

WILLIAM JONES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRODUCTION O1 QXYGEN AND HYDROGEN Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatenteci. Jan. 7.

Application filed October 18, 19113. fieriai Ho. 795,515.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM JoNns, a subject of Great'Britain, residing at No. 11 Wadsworth avenue, in the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for the Production of Oxygen and Hydrogen Gases.

My invention relates to the production of oxygen and hydrogen gases by the electrolysis of water.

This method of producing these gases is not new, there being two distinct forms of apparatus used in their production. One consists of independent cells", which are complete in themselves, having two electrodes separated with a diaphragm, the'two gases being drawn from their respective sides of this diaphragm. The other form of apparatus is composed of plates set with diaphragms between them, so as to form separate compartments for the gases. These plates have apertures at the upper corners, and in the center at the bottom, which when the plates are placed together form a channel for each gas at the top and for the entrance of the water at the bottom, openings being made in the metal to allow the gases and water to pass from and into the different chambers.

These plates are placed in series so that one side is positive and the other side is nega- I tive, while the electric current passes through the series of such plates. This plate or electrode is described in Patent #981102, dated Jan. 10th, 1911.

The first form of apparatus, or the independent cell givesv very pure gases, but the cost of the plant is high, and it takes up considerable space. The second apparatus, costs must less and takes up less room, but the gases are not so pure. This is on account of a small portion of the current passing fromone plate or electrode to the other through the electrolyte contained in all or some of these internal channels and so producing both gases in the same channel which can enter either compartment, thus producing a gas which is impure and which might be dangerous to compress into cylinders.

One object of my invention is to overcome this tendency for the gases to become mixed and still use the cheaper form of apparatus. v

Ifattain one object of my invention by making my electrode without any epenings which form channels containing the electrolyte and which are in the path of the electric current through the apparatus. According to my invention the gases are passed off through tubes or ducts to conduits and the electrolyte is supplied through tubes or ducts from a conduit, these conduits being outside the path of the electric current through the apparatus. For this purpose the con duits are preferably located beyond the electrodes so that there is no way for the current to form any gases within the conduits or elsewhere except within the respective cells or chambers between the electrodes nor for the production of a mixed or impure gas.

It is also found that in using iron for these electrodes, that the plate is slowly corroded by the oxygen as it is formed.

Another object of my invention is to correct this corrosion of the electrode. I accomplish this by plating or coating the electrode on one side with nickel which I find is not acted upon by the oxygen and, there fore, prevents the corrosion of the metal which would otherwise be produced.

I am aware as above stated that these gases are produced as described. First in individual cells, where the gases are taken from each compartment, and second, in the apparatus formed by plates, where the gases are conducted through internal channels. But I am not aware that any apparatus is or has been used which is constructed of plates, and in which the evolved gasesare discharged from the several cells or compartments through ducts connecting with conduits and in which the electrolyte is supplied to the several cells or compartments through ducts connecting with the liquid supply conduit, these several conduits being outside the path of the electric current through the apparatus and located beyond the electrodes. I am also unaware that nickel has been used for electrodes.

In the drawing submitted my electrode is shown in perspective and side elevation, showing how the different tubes are placed.

A and B are pipes for drawing ofi the gases as they are formed.

C is the pipe for the supply of water.

I claim:

1. A bi-polar electrode of the character.-

described designed to be used in series and in Which there are no o enings to form inply conduit connecting Wllih said supp-1y ternal channels arranged to contain the elecducts and so arranged as to be outslde the trolyte. path of the electric current through the ap- 2. An electrolytic apparatus of the charparatus. p

5 acter described embodying therein a plu- 4. An electrolytic apparatus of the char- 25 rality of electrodes and a diaphragm'be acter described embodying therein a pluraltWeen adjoining electrodes forming separate ity of electrodesiand a d aphragm between chambers for the separation of the different ad]o1n1ng electrodes forming. separate chamgases evolved, gas ducts leading from the 'bers forthe separatlon of the d1tferent gases to several chambers, and separate conduits conevolved, gas ducts leadmg from the several so necting with said gas ducts and so arranged chambers and separate conduits connectmg as toibe outside of the path of the electric With sald gas ducts, supply ducts for the current'through the apparatus. electrolyte leadmg to the several chambers,

' 3. An electrolytic apparatus of the charand a supply conduit connecting with said l5 acter described embodying therein a plusupply ducts,sa1d conduitsbeing located be- $5 rality of electrodes and a diaphragm beyond the electrodes and so arranged as to tween adjoining electrodes forming separate be outside the path of the electrlc current chambers for the separation 2f the difi'erent through the apparatus. 'ases evolved supply ducts or the electro- 20 ,l yte leading tb the several'chambers, a sup- WILLIAM J ONES.

DISQLAIM B;

1,"2l2,229.- William J ones, New Yorla, N. Y. APPARATUS ron THE Pnonucrron I or @KYGEN AND HYDROGEN GAS'ES. Patent dated January 16, 1917. Disclairner filed September 1, 1917 by the patentee.

By Way of disclaime r I Hereby limits the Word electrodes occurring in line 3 of claims 2 and 3 of said patent to bl-POZEM electrodes! V [Oflic'lal Gwzefic September 18, 191

DISGLAIMEB.

' 1,212,229. William Jones, New York, N. Apparatus for the Production of Oxygen and Hydrogen Gases- Patent dated January 16, 19 1 7. DlSGlalH mr filed September 30, 1919, by the patentee.

Enters this disclaimer- I To claims Nos. 2 and 3 of said Letters Patent. 1

[Ojicial Gazette, October 21, 1919.]

l Disclfllmef'lfl Letters Pal-6m N b QZQa-ZDEsCIaimerin Letters Patent No. 1,212,229. 

